The Stream Main menu

Roe v. Wade, 40 years later

It's been forty years since the US Supreme Court legalized abortion, yet the last two decades saw the number of abortion clinics fall from 2200 to less than 660. The state of Mississippi, for instance, used to have 14 clinics. Today it has one.

We examine why some states are passing anti-abortion legislation and whether Americans are as divided on this issue as their politicians. Join the conversation at 1930GMT.

Roe v. Wade, 40 years later

What is the status of abortion rights in the US?

Abortion was made legal in the US on January 22, 1973 after the anonymous Jane Roe took her case to the US Supreme Court to challenge a Texas court ruling that prevented her from going through the procedure. The ruling resulted in the famous Roe v. Wade decision, which expanded women's access to abortion.

Below is an excerpt from the ruling.

Roe v Wade ExcerptAJstream

However, today, an increasing number of states are passing legislation that makes it more difficult for women to access and undergo abortions.

Guttmacher Institute 1AJstream

According to The Abortion Docs, a pro-life activist organisation, the number of surgical abortion clinics has declined to nearly 656 in the US. In 1991 that number was over 2200.

number of abortion clinicsAJstream

The state of Mississippi used to house fourteen abortion clinics. Today, the Jackson Women's Health Organization is the only operating clinic that remains.

Deadline Day For Jackson Abortion ClinicOn the eve of the 40 th anniversary of the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion, Mississippi's only abortion clini...

In the annual March for Life in Washington DC, activists express hope that one day abortion in the US will end.

March for Life 2013backflipfilms

Netizens shared their impressions of this year's march on Twitter with the hashtag #marchforlife.

Why am I #prolife AND #progun? Because both policies defend the innocent and protect the weak. #MarchforLifeMelissa Clouthier

We all will never stop fighting until ALL life is seen as a precious gift, & something that should always be protected. #MarchForLifeSarah Santorum

Just came back from @March_for_Life. What a truly uplifting experience it was. Tens of thousands of people braving the cold to #marchforlifeGabriella Hoffman

Blessings on everyone who marched in Washington yesterday...#marchforlifePatricia Heaton

Despite the ongoing debate over the issue, a recent Pew survey found the majority of Americans do not want to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision.

Pew Research Center (2)AJstream

The following graph published by the Wall Street Journal seems to show that the debate is not black-and-white, as is frequently portrayed. While the majority of Americans do no oppose the Supreme Court ruling, a sizable amount also favor some restrictions.

Wall Street JournalAJstream

Currently, the number of yearly abortions in the US has leveled off at about 1.2 million.

Guttmacher Institute 2AJstream

Al Jazeera's documentary series, Fault Lines, examined the abortion debate and its impact on legislation ahead of the 2012 US presidential elections.

Fault Lines - The Abortion Waraljazeeraenglish

Despite increasing anti-abortion state legislation, Ohio State Senator Nina Turner stresses the importance of a woman's ability to choose and criticizes her state's now-defunct Heartbeat Bill. The bill would have banned abortions at the first sign of a foetal heartbeat.

The Viagra Bill and The Heartless Billplunderbund

US-based health care provider Planned Parenthood created a video that aimed to move the abortion conversation beyond the "pro-life" and "pro-choice" labels.